Objects, Art & Furniture, Antique to Modern and Folk to Formal
Highly stylized Yoruba twin pair with tapering heads, high forehead, large diamond-shaped eyes and broad smiles displaying traditionally filed incisors.
The features are recognizable as the hand of a particular carver working in the early to mid 20th century in the town of Ajasse. I’ve found three supposed names for this carver but an identical pair on IbejiArchive.com (online archive illustrating regional styles and variations) suggests the name Dagikonle. The archive also classifies these examples as “scarce” in terms of rarity.
Each figure is adorned with the same style of braided leather bracelet, brass/bronze anklets and – judging from the piercings present on both – they also once had earrings.
As with many other Igbomina examples, these figures stand on individually carved high sandals rather than solid bases common to other parts of Yorubaland.
Impressed letter/number marks on the underside of their feet is in the style of collector and dealer Lau (Laurits) Sunde (1910-1979), Copenhagen.
Last sold via Skinner Auction, 2005.
Female measures 12-3/4 inches tall and the male measures 12-1/2 inches tall.
Wear and condition as expected with age. Very old losses to both feet of male as shown.
10% of all in-store and online sales will be directed toward local not-for-profits. Details here.
The shop is located in the Historic Village of Franklin, Delaware County, NY in the western Catskill Mountains.
Shop Address
322 Main Street
Franklin, NY
Mailing Address
1818 State Hwy 28
Oneonta, NY 13820
Shop Hours
Saturdays: 11am – 5:30pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
Otherwise by appointment or chance.
Approximate Travel Times
Oneonta: 10 minutes
Delhi: 20 minutes
Cooperstown: 30 minutes
Binghamton: 1 hour
Albany and the Hudson Valley: 1.5 hours
New York City/George Washington Bridge: 2.5 hours
